After June's Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall riots 50 years ago, celebrations continue in communities across the country.
In North Bay, the five-day event began Wednesday, July 17 with a flag raising at city hall.
Events for the LGBTTIQQ2SA community are taking place until July 21 and include: a drag show, cruise, march, picnic, youth dance, and a family fun day.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement to the organizers of North Bay Pride through a Facebook video.
According to the North Bay Pride website, the events in North Bay only began in 2017 and participation has grown each year. The organizing committee is comprised of volunteers dedicated to ensuring everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, feels safe, accepted and open to be themselves. It is a grassroots organization promoting acceptance and love.
Recently, the local pride committee in North Bay has been working on a proposal for city councilto help make areas in the community more inclusive.
Jason MacLennan and Nick George are two members of the committee members.
"I've actually put together a proposal to strike an advisory on diversity and inclusion council to work with the city and a city councillor at making them more inclusive around things like safer spaces, inclusion around the trans community," said MacLennen.
George says that many in the LGBTQ2S+ community face discrimination when using a public washroom.
"Right now, in no city building, do we as two-spirit people, transgender, non-binary people, we don't have a place to pee. And I've come into contact with people in women's bathrooms, men's bathrooms, family and wheelchair bathrooms that don't want me there," said George.
The focus of the 2019 North Bay Pride is family.
